Wanting to spend time in the city, but still enjoy the outdoors in the beautiful, sunny Charlotte, North Carolina weather, we opted for some urban hiking while visiting family during our Southeast trip last December.
Christmas in the Southeast: Celebrating through Georgia and the Carolinas
We had quite a travel adventure in the Southeast part of the country to celebrate and visit with our loved ones for Thanksgiving. As with most of the country, Thanksgiving trickles right into Christmas, and this was evident even more so this year. Not only are Thanksgiving and Christmas closer together on the calendar, but it was also our only chance to celebrate the holiday with our east coast family and friends.
That’s a lot of festivities to squeeze in, but the region certainly helped out by getting all dressed up for us! Allow us to take you along on our journey, and at the same time, we’ll show you how the Southeast shows off their Yuletide spirit.
After landing in Atlanta, we traveled just north of the city to the little town of Lawrenceville. This was to be just a stopover hotel stay before making our way to the Charlotte area to visit with family. We drove into town in search of dinner; however it turned into much more!
We noticed streets closed down and residents running toward the town square, so we quickly found a parking spot and followed the crowd. To our surprise a Christmas celebration was happening complete with a tree lighting, caroling, parade, and visit from Santa. And to top it all off, the three of us got to try boiled peanuts for the first time. Bergen was a huge fan, but Slaed and I are pretty sure we will stick to the roasted variety.
Next up on our tour of the southeast takes us to North Carolina and the adorable small town of Waxhaw. Waxhaw is just south of Charlotte, and very close to the South Carolina border. My sister and her family will soon call this community home as they are building a house here, so naturally we decided to take time to play, shop, eat, and just explore!
During our visit, we hit up the playground, with remnants of Santa’s visit (in the form of artificial snow) left behind from the previous night, and then started to make our way over their local coffeehouse to warm up. The railroad runs through the center of town and our timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Just as we were ready to cross over the foot bridge, the train payed us a visit! You can probably guess that Bergen (2 years old) was the most excited.
Making our way back down to Georgia, to breakup the mini road trip, we stopped in Columbia, South Carolina. We knew the Riverbanks Zoo would be the perfect spot for Bergen to burn off a little steam. We also did our homework and knew that our admission would be free thanks to the zoo’s reciprocal relationship with our Woodland Park Zoo back home in Seattle.
We were very impressed with everything this small zoo had to offer, and felt that the exhibits were well designed and made for easy viewing. Needless to say, they are decked out for Christmas and we can only imagine how pretty it must look at night with all the lights twinkling, bonfire going, and all their other cheery festivities. We just happened to be walking by when one of the staff members was testing out the snow machine. Made for some fun memories of dancing around; with Bergen wondering why his parents were so giddy!
Our last stop on the Southeast tour was Augusta, Georgia to visit our dear friends who have recently relocated there. Though my hair wasn’t thrilled with the 100% humidity, we were happy to put our coats and hats aside and enjoy balmy temperatures. Augusta has so much natural beauty with pine trees everywhere and hanging moss adorning the oaks. We especially loved visiting the Augusta Canal and learning all about their lock system along the Savannah River.
What really got us into the Christmas spirit though was stopping by the Surrey Center not far from where all the Masters (annual golf tournament) action occurs. The chic women’s clothing store, Soho not only had a Christmas tree made of coke bottles, which we kept Bergen at least 10 feet away from at all times, but the owner also fashioned a tree using just deer antlers. Such a fun way to show off the uniqueness of the town and surrounding area.
Where are you celebrating the season this year? Have you discovered any new towns, cities or communities? We’d love to hear from you!
Come join the conversation! You can keep up to date with each and every post by subscribing to the blog via email. We’d also love to have you join us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter! If you enjoyed this post, please “like it”, “tweet it” or “pin it”!
Just 1 Day: Play and Eat in Door County, Wisconsin
After our pit stop in Algoma, Wisconsin, we were on a mission: No more messing around. We needed to see and experience true Door County, Wisconsin (not just the outskirts).
Play
So torn with what to do with such little time (and an anxious toddler), I furiously scanned the guide book, tourism magazines and ideas we’d printed out from research at home. I was draw to–SURPRISE!–another state park. Like Point Beach, this one is on the shores of Lake Michigan, and while I would have loved to change things up and maybe see the Green Bay side of the peninsula, the beaches of Whitefish Dunes State Park were calling my name.
When we arrived, I felt even better as the ranger told us we were about to experience Wisconsin’s best beach.
Having only visited a handful of Wisconsin beaches, we can’t really claim that Whitefish Dunes is the absolute best (since we haven’t seen so many others), but we can attest to it’s beauty and uniqueness.
I was surprised to learn that a section just inside the entrance to the beach area is prone to rip currents. I suppose its again my naiveness of the midwest and the power of a large lake, but I just always associated this phenomenon with oceans and seas. The section was roped off and easily avoidable.
We defaulted to our usual beach walking routine of dipping our toes into the water and collecting treasures. Thanks to some serious sand bars, we could actually walk quite far out into the lake without the water even getting close to our knees.
The water was crystal clear here without a lot of the seaweed debris we were used to seeing at other Lake Michigan beach spots. In one spot, millions of tiny delicate shells swept up towards the beach.
And there’s so much more that we lacked the time to explore. Over 14 miles of hiking trails, a fishing lake, a nature center, and even a special beach just for dogs.
Eat
As we entered Sturgeon Bay on our way to the state park, we thankfully had our lunch spot all scoped out. The Bluefront Cafe on the west side of town is an adorable little eatery serving brunch, lunch and dinner. To us, they offered fancier and more diverse food options compared to what we had typically seen (and thoroughly enjoyed!) in our Wisconsin trip.
I love the set-up of cute tables and cozy booths, and the fact that it was clearly enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. Their selection of Wisconsin micro-brews on tap didn’t hurt either.
Our Picks? The Walleye Sandwich and Fish Tacos
Have you visited Door County, Wisconsin?
Tell us about your experience!
Come join the conversation! If you enjoyed this post, you can keep up to date with each and every post by subscribing to the blog via email. We’d also love to have you join us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter!
More on Wisconsin:
- Madison Eats
- Algoma and Its Murals
- Point Beach State Forest (Two Rivers, WI)
- An Ice Cream Fit for Lunch
Our Midwest Beach Vacation: Exploring Point Beach State Forest in Two Rivers, WI
When you hear “Wisconsin”, what’s the first thing you think about?
Cheese, cows, curds, and beer all seem to be classic answers.
How about the beach though?
Does splashing in the waves, boogie boarding, and walking along the shore come to mind?
It most certainly did not for us, but after attending a family wedding in Madison, we were willing to give the coast of Wisconsin a try. In fact, we turned what could have been a short wedding weekend, into a full week mid-west vacation.
From Madison, we made our way north to the small “beach” town of Two Rivers on Lake Michigan. Normally we choose to stay in town and close to the action of restaurants, cafes, and local shops, and while we weren’t far (just 2 miles), this time a comfortable retreat that was closer to the water was more important to us.
Happy to support Wisconsin’s state parks system, we chose Point Beach State Forest to be our first spot of exploration, and minus a break for lunch and Bergen’s (2 years old) nap, we made the most of the entry fee and spent the majority of the day here.
First, we decided on a leisurely (though long) walk along the water with Bergen beginning and ending in the backpack carrier. He also started off with regular clothes, changed into his swimming gear when it became evident that we wouldn’t be shy about the water, and was back in his dry clothes as we made our way home.
We nearly had the beach to ourselves and took our time taking in views of the lighthouse, stopping to investigate the differences in the lake shore verses ocean shore, and giving Bergen plenty of time to throw sand and rocks into the water and chase butterflies.
After a while, we saw a blue tent set-up in the distance and made the goal of reaching it for our turn around spot. We planned to then take the forest trail back to get a different perspective of the park.
As we approached the group at the blue tent, the people were friendly enough, but they were skeptical. Like us, I think they were enjoying their deserted beach time, and weren’t sure about this family of three encroaching on their fun.
Behind them, we started up the walkway, to find the forest trail that would lead us back to the park entrance. Here we ran into even more people, and discovered that we actually were invading these vacationers space! After following the walkway, we found a set of rustic cabins (available to rent from the state park) and quickly realized we needed to get out of their hair before they started thinking were some sort of weird intruders.
A couple of the campers were nice enough to lead us to the trail and we were on our way. Unfortunately, we didn’t last long. Being the spoiled Pacific Northwesterners that we are, it didn’t occur to us to bring the bug spray (that we packed, but left at the rental) along with us. Before stepping foot into the forest, we didn’t even think we’d need it! Isn’t bug spray just something you slap on at night while enjoying some outside time? Not even close.
Can you tell Slaed was high tailing it out of there?
The mosquitoes literally consumed us. And poor Bergen in the backpack carrier was defenseless. He couldn’t even reach down and swat them away. We were back to the beach in a hurry, which is a shame because I was really looking forward to getting to know more of the woodsy parts of Wisconsin that we had heard so much about.
I guess we should have been more prepared. The girls who helped us get to the path originally must of assumed we were smarter, because they made no mention of the pests. All they said was what a great time we’d have hiking!
A much more pleasant return.
After this experience and even more fun later on in our trip, we are a couple of believers in the Midwest beach! Calm water, soft sand, beautiful views… Just stay clear of the forested areas unless you are well-equipped and ready to defend yourself.
These suckers were certainly not the worst pests we’ve encountered, but bad enough. Where have you run into the worst bugs in your travels?
Come join the conversation! We’d love to have you join us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter! You can also keep up to date with each and every post by subscribing to the blog via email.
More from our Midwest Vacation:
Adventure Gear: Old Fashioned Maps and Street Guides
I’m horrible with directions. I have no general sense of direction, and more often than not, the direction I think is correct, is actually the complete opposite of where I should be headed. Lucky for me, I married a navigator (and great driver), but because of these great skills, I tend to check-out and take in the scenery without a care of how we might be getting where we are going. It’s embarrassing to admit, but there are places I been to countless times, yet I would never be able to get there on my own without step by step directions.
I believe I’m getting better though. For one, I now make a conscious effort, most of the time, to pay attention and even ask questions to stay engaged in how we are getting somewhere.
And for two, though I haven’t quit completely, I’m trying to not always rely on step-by-step, turn-by-turn directions from sources like google maps and apps you might find on your phone. It all started when I was on my way to Kubota Garden in South Seattle with Bergen. Here I was so happy to go on this adventure after running some errands nearby when I suddenly realized, I really didn’t know how to get there!
I do not have a smart phone. An iPod Touch, yes, but that tool would only be helpful with a WiFi connection. I suppose I could have pulled over and found a place to connect, look up directions, and be on my way, but then I realized something was sitting right behind me ready show me the way!
Years ago, I purchased a street guide for the Greater Seattle area and threw it in the back of my car thinking it would be there if I needed it. I never really used the thing until this day, and it was eye-opening for me. I flipped through, found the map showing the general area we were in, and planned my route to the garden. There is even a index in the back making it easy to look up common places like schools, parks, museums, and other points of interest.
Using my street guide or just a good old fashioned map makes me happy and they truly come in handy. Here’s why:
- It’s easy. Like I mentioned, just flip through or check the index and voila, there is the map you need. No waiting around for the network or internet connection to work.
- A physical map just feels more usable than looking up a location on a mobile device. There is actual thinking involved instead of just relying on the directions generated by the internet, which engages me in the process of finding the place. And since I’ve done the work here , I’m more likely to know how to get there on my own next time.
- Internet directions can be unreliable. I just read an article in the Seattle Times today about travelers driving to the Anchorage Airport and actually driving on the runway because that’s where the map app on their apple device was guiding them. That’s just not okay.
- These maps and the ones corresponding to them give me a better perspective of where I am and where I am headed.
- The map is not going anywhere. It won’t run out of battery life, be out of cell range or without internet access. It’s there when I need it.
Do you break out the old-fashioned maps and street guides when on the road? Or are you a mobile device map user? Little bit of both? Tell us about it!
Come join the conversation! You can keep up to date with each and every post by subscribing to the blog via email. We’d also love to have you join us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter!
Related Posts:
Making our Way to Door County, Wisconsin: Algoma and It’s Murals
When we began planning our trip to Wisconsin, anyone we talked to (who knew anything about Wisconsin) would mention Door County. I’ll admit, I’d never heard of the place. Maybe it’s my East Coast/West Coast bias of just not paying attention to the stuff in the middle.
Door County is located on the northern tip of the Door Peninsula on the northeast side of the state. To the west is Green Bay (the bay, not the city), and to the east is Lake Michigan.
From our hub in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, it would take about an hour to get to what most consider just the gateway of Door County: Sturgeon Bay. With just a day to explore, and a toddler in tow plus a planned date night starting in the early evening, we had to be mindful of our time.
Instead of rushing up to “true door county” we took our time driving up to the peninsula, and decided to stop in the little towns along the way.
Algoma was where we decided to hop out of the car for our morning coffee. On recommendation from our guide book, we wandered into Caffe Tlazo, an Italian inspired eatery featuring delicious coffees and teas. We thought we’d order our typical stand-bys, but were intrigued by the cafe’s selection of what I call “fancy drinks”. Combinations of flavors and concoctions that I’d never heard of before had us studying the menu longer than usual. I finally decided on some sort of peanut butter latte while Slaed went with a beachy sounding mocha drink.
Once hitting the road to explore, we immediately noticed a beautiful mural welcoming us to the town, and showing some of what makes the location special.
Then we continued on and I realized there was not just one mural, but at least 10 works of art showcased throughout their downtown area on the sides of buildings. For a town of just over 3,000 residents, that’s a lot! Some are painted directly on the wall while others are painted and designed elsewhere, and then attached. These murals show important pieces of Algoma’s history, and are now part of the small town’s “claim-to-fame”.
We didn’t get to see every single mural, but we came close, and for the little time we had to see the town (the time it takes to finish one’s coffee), we sure learned a lot about how this place came to be. And speaking of those coffee drinks—what a fun way to change up the routine and treat yourself!-
Have you traveled to or explored a town famous for it’s murals? Tell us about the place in the comments!
Come join the conversation! You can keep up to date with each and every post by subscribing to the blog via email. We’d also love to have you join us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter!